HONOLULU — Legacy of Life Hawaii (LLH) presented Tripler Army Medical Center with the Health and Human Services Medal of Honor Award, its highest honor, for organ and tissue donation best practices, here, Sept. 25.

Dr. Stephen Kula, president and CEO, LLH, thanked Col. David Dunning, commander, TAMC, for his support of the program and commended the hospital for its past efforts in achieving a donation rate of 83 percent of eligible organ and tissue donors, helping to ensure more lives could be saved.

This percentage exceeds the national goal of 75 percent conversion of potential donors into actual donors.

“We applaud Tripler for its efforts in achieving this level of excellence, and for its work in improving the donation process which continues to help save lives,” stated Kula.

Dunning thanked LLH for the collaboration that makes donation possible and acknowledged the TAMC staff for its significant efforts in achieving the recognition.

“While this is a very sensitive subject, it’s also a very sacred one, because we are fulfilling the last wishes of an individual to donate his or her organs so that others can live,” Dunning said.

Nationally, nearly 125,000 people, including more than 400 here in Hawaii, are in end-stage organ failure awaiting a life-saving heart, liver, lungs, kidney or pancreas transplant. Millions more are in need of life-restoring tissue.

LLC also invited Dunning to participate in the nationwide “Hospital CEO Rose Dedication.” A single rose with a short message inscribed by Dunning will be on display alongside thousands of roses dedicated by hospital CEOs across the country to be placed on the Donate Life Float’s dedication garden during the annual New Year’s Day Rose Parade. Dunning’s message reads:

“The Soldiers, civilians and family members of Tripler Army Medical Center salute the heroes who selflessly gave the precious gift of life through organ and tissue donations.”

The Donate Life Float showcases the life-saving and healing benefits of organ, tissue and eye donation, and serves as a memorial to donors.

Legacy

To register as a donor, visit legacyoflifehawaii.org or check “yes” in the organ donor section of your driver’s license or state identification card registration.